A restaurant owner caught flouting food safety laws has been ordered to shell out almost all his life savings in fines.

Shek Keung Kwok, also known as Tommy Kwok, admitted three charges of breaching food safety regulations in court yesterday.

The court heard how council inspectors discovered cigarette ends on the kitchen floor of the Szechuan Inn, a Chinese restaurant in Cattawade Street, Brantham, as well as grease and dirt.

Council inspectors concluded that the poor standards of hygiene posed a significant risk to the health of members of the public eating at the restaurant.

Caroline Watlin, prosecuting for Babergh District Council, said: "Standards were so poor that the risk of contamination and infestation was high and, even though pest control measures were in place, the amount of food debris on the floor meant that rodent pests would find an ample supply of food and therefore not be attracted to the poison bait boxes."

The court also heard how customers of The Szechuan had brought civil claims against Kwok in 2002, after an outbreak of salmonella, linked to the restaurant.

In 2004, Kwok was also convicted and fined for selling food which council officials described as "not fit for human consumption".

Kwok, who has previously won an award for his outstanding service to the local community, blamed short staffing and long hours for the lack of cleanliness at his restaurant and takeaway.

Diana Infanti, defending, told the court how Kwok had been in the restaurant business for 30 years since he came to the UK from Hong Kong in 1979, looking after restaurants in Liverpool, Reading, Newbury and Bedford.

She said: "The whole family work exceptionally hard and he does accept that sometimes it's difficult to keep up with the cleaning in the kitchen and he understands that it's very important to keep his business safe."

The court heard Kwok had £20,000 saved up which he planned to put towards his mortgage and his children's university fees.

Deputy District Judge at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, Sandip Kainth, ordered him to pay £16,420 in court costs and fines.

He said: "Being in the restaurant trade for 30 years should have taught you at least one thing, and that's hygiene."